Appearance

With a long, lean head, well-feathered ears, tail, legs and underbody, and a strong ground-covering trot, the Irish Setter looks every inch an aristocrat. Many consider this to be the most beautiful show dog of them all, but beneath that beautiful exterior lies a rollicking, devil-may-care dog. The straight, flat coat requires brushing about three times a week, and some trimming may be necessary to tidy head and throat. Examine ears weekly and gently clean them as needed.

History

Though the breed was developed in the early 1700s in Ireland, the exact origins are unknown. Most likely, the Irish Setter came from an English or Gordon Setter, spaniel, and pointer combination. The breed was originally used to "set" game, crouching low near the birds so that the hunters could walk up and throw a net over bird and dog. When firearms were introduced, the Irish adapted into a gun dog that pointed, flushed and hunted in an upright stance.